Recording Your Giveaway Draw for Transparency
"How do we know it wasn't rigged?" It's a question nobody running a giveaway wants to hear, and it's best answered before anyone asks. A recording of your draw does that. It lets followers watch exactly what you did, from start to finish, with nothing hidden.
You don't need special equipment. A phone or computer with a built-in screen recorder is enough.
What a good draw video shows
The goal is a continuous, uncut recording that covers the full process. In order, it should show:
- The giveaway post itself, so viewers know which post the entries came from.
- Loading the comments into RaffleSelect from that post's link.
- The filters you're using, such as the duplicate filter, hashtag filter, block list or bonus entries, and the number of winners and substitutes.
- The draw, including the countdown if you're using it.
- The result: the winner and any substitutes.
Most draws take a couple of minutes from start to finish, so the full video is short.
Why uncut matters
If the video jumps from "loading comments" straight to "here's the winner," a skeptical viewer will wonder what happened in between. A single unbroken take answers that. You can still add a caption, music or an intro card before or after, but leave the draw itself untouched.
Equally important: run the draw once. If something goes wrong (wrong post, forgot a filter), stop, explain on camera what happened, and start again. Don't quietly re-run it off camera.
Setting up the recording
On a phone
Both major phone operating systems include a screen recorder, usually found in the quick settings or control panel. Turn on Do Not Disturb first, so a personal message doesn't pop up halfway through. Close other apps and clear your notifications.
On a computer
Most computers have a built-in way to record the screen, and there are free screen-recording tools as well. Record just the browser window if you can, rather than your whole desktop, and close tabs you don't want viewers to see.
Filming the screen with a second phone
Some hosts prefer to film the screen with a phone on a stand, with themselves partly in shot. It's less crisp than a screen recording, but it feels personal and makes it obvious the draw is happening in real time. Just check there's no glare.
A quick privacy check
Before you hit record, think about what will be visible:
- Bookmarks, other tabs or saved logins in your browser.
- Notifications from email, messages or other apps.
- Usernames in the comment list. These are already public on the post, but avoid zooming in on individual entrants or reading out comments that might embarrass someone.
Never show a winner's address, email or other private details on screen, even if you've already received them.
Recorded, live, or both?
| Option | Strengths | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded video | No pressure, you can check it before posting, works at any time. | Viewers see it after the fact, so it relies on the video being uncut. |
| Live stream | Real time, interactive, hard to argue with. | More nerve-racking; technical hiccups happen in front of everyone. |
| Live, then saved | The best of both: watch live or catch the replay. | Needs a bit more setup. |
For most small giveaways, a recorded video is plenty. For larger prizes, or if your community has been burned by fake giveaways before, going live is worth the extra effort.
Where to share it
- Stories for a quick, casual post.
- A Reel, TikTok or YouTube Short if the reveal is fun to watch, especially with the countdown animation.
- A reply under the original giveaway pointing to the video, for entrants checking back.
- Saved to a highlight alongside past draws, building a visible track record.
Pair the video with the winner certificate in your announcement post. The certificate is the quick summary; the video is the proof for anyone who wants to look closer.
Small upgrades
On the Gold and Platinum plans, the countdown reveal gives the video a natural moment of suspense, and branding puts your logo on the result, which helps when the clip gets shared. Neither is required for a transparent draw, but they make the video more watchable.
Record your next draw
Next time you're ready to pick a winner, start your screen recorder first, then open RaffleSelect and run the draw in one take. It's a couple of minutes of effort that heads off a lot of doubt.